Episode 65: Tricks and Techniques For Outsmarting Imposter Syndrome

You are great, you really are!

Do you suffer from “imposter syndrome” – feeling like at any moment someone’s going to realize you don’t really know what you’re doing, and all your touted accomplishments were luck or chance?

If so, you’re in good company. Nobel Prize winners, hugely successful actors, entrepreneurs of all types, and others from all walks of life are right there with you. “When are they gonna realize…?” And “If only they knew the truth!”

Self-doubt is natural, and there are many reasons for it. But we need to keep on working, keep on creating, keep on making the world a better place. And so it’s good to have a few techniques for beating back that fear of being found out (which, of course, is pretty much completely irrational.)

You’re not alone

Just to be clear, it’s extremely common to feel like you’re in over your head, unqualified, and that your successes are just flukes. It’s not true – but it’s common.

For example, here are three articles listing out famous people who feel like imposters. (Thanks to Clement Kao for sending these links!):

I think you’ll agree that any of these actors, authors, scientists, creators, athletes, luminaries should have no worries about their legitimacy – and yet they’re just as worried about being found out as you and I might be.

For an even more detailed assessment of your aptitudes, check out the Johnson O’Connor Research Foundation’s two-day aptitude test. It’s pretty amazing and revealing – also not cheap at about $600. You have to do it in-person – which might not be an option during these pandemic times, but definitely put it on your wishlist for the future.

Product management and product marketing are highly complex, unpredictable, uncertain domains. It’s often especially hard to feel like you’re making progress in that circumstance. You might find the Cynefin model useful – I have – for understanding the implications of working in complex domains.

Even more stuff!

If you want to learn to tell your own stories better – make them more exciting, engaging, and persuasive – check out my free, live master class on “Telling Your Own Stories.” I’ll be presenting it a few times in May. Go to alltheresponsibility.com/masterclass for the schedule and to sign up.